Shock-absorber for motor-cycles.



O. W. HEATH.

SHOCK ABSORBER FOR MOTOR CYCLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1913. 1,104,500, Patented July 21, 1914 v 2 SHEETS-SHEET-l.

THE NORRIS PETERS c0. PHoTO-LITHQ. WASH'INGTON. DV 0.

G. W. HEATH. SHOCK ABSORBER FOB/MOTOR CYCLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1913.

Patented July 21, 1914. l

2 $HBETS-SHBET 2.

Suva M30; 6/ 1/05. W. flea/6Z0,

CHARLES W. HEATH, OF SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SHOCK-ABSORBER' FOR MOTOR-CYCLES.

Application filed June 2, 1913.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jul 21, 1914.. Serial no. 771,274.

To all wliom it may concern Be it-known that I, CHARLES W. HEATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sioux Falls, in the county of Minnehaha and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock-Absorbers for M otor-Cycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to the construction of the rear wheel supports for motorcycles or the like, which relieves the riders of such vehicles from discomfort and to prevent injury to the'motor and other parts mounted on the frame, incident to shocks and jars in running at high speed over rough and uneven roads.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a connection between the rear wheel and the frame of such vehicles which will permit the free vertical movement of the rear wheel in passing over rough and uneven roads to eliminate shocks or jars, but will at the same time prevent any lateral play or wabbling of the rear wheel, and for the attainment of this object as well asothers in view to provide means of such construction and design as will be strong, durable and efficient in serviceas well as attractive in appearance thereby rendering the same commercially desirable.

The invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been I illustrated the simple and preferred form of the invention it being, however, understood that no l1m1tat1on is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein ex hibited, but the right is reserved to any changes, alterations and modifications to which recourse may be had that come within the scope of the invention and without departing from the spirit thereof or sacrificing the efficiency of the same.

The invention will be best understood by reference being hadto the accompanying drawings taken in connection with the following detailed description forming part of the specification in which Figure 1, is a detail side elevation of the rear portionof a motorcycle illustrating. my invention as applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the connection between the rear wheel and the vehicle frame. Fig. 8,

is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows as shown. Fig. 4C, is a detail sectional view taken on the line 44L of Fig. 2-. Fig. 5, is a view illustrating the connection between one of the leaf springsandthe vehicle frame and, Figs. 6 and 7 are detail sectional views nary frame of a motorcycle to which is connected the rear axle 2 carrying the rear wheel 3 by means of my improved shock absorber embodying my invention as will be hereinafter referred to. r

The rear axle 2 is adjustably connected in the usual manner within bifurcated ends of the links 4.. These links 4 are hingedly connected to the rear forks 1 of the frame by -means of a hinged connection indicated generally by the numeral 5 whereby the rear wheel will be permitted to move freely in a perpendicular plane asthe same passes over rough and uneven roads. The links a comprise a substantially'circular plate 6 at one end thereof, whereas the opposite end is offset and bifurcated whereby the rear wheel may be adjustably secured.

The circular plates are hingedly secured within housings each comprising a'pair of a spaced circular plates 7 by means of bolts Each of the plates 7 of the housings is provided witha pair of angular extensions 9 extending radially from the periphery thereof and each of the said extensions has formed in the inner face thereof semi-circular recesses 10 for the reception of the rear forks of the frame of the vehicle. apexes of the rear forks of the frame are cut awaywhereby the extremities may rest within the recesses 10 and the extensions are rigidly connected to the extremities of the forks by means of bolts 11. Each plate 7 has formed integral therewith a pair of diametrically oppositely extending .apertured lugs 12 through which extend bolts The r 13 whereby the said plates may be connected in pairs. Each pair of plates 7 forms a housing in which snugly fit the circular plates 6, but the said circular plates6 are free to oscillate vertically between the plates 7 and are preventedfrom any lateral play to prevent the wabbling ofthe rear wheel of A cylindrical bushing 14: en

holding plates 7 in the proper spaced relationtop'revent the circularplates 6 from binding between the plates "7 du'ringtheir reciprocating movement.

Plvotally -conne'cted tothe links dis the usual support 15 having recesses "formed therein for the reception of the lugs 16 whereby the rear end of the vehicle may be supported when-not in use. Oneof the links 4-"-i'si p'rovi ded with abolt'lTto-which the hanger arm of the coaster brake may be attached, the latter not'being shown. The ;aaforesaid parts form no part of the present invention but-are 'describedto illustrate how th'e -s'ame may-be 'appliedto a motor cycle provided with the present invention.

For resiliently holding the links 4 in their rproperposition, l secureby means of clips or collars 18tothe upper'standards of the forks 'leaf springs 19. The clips 18 each comprise afsemi circular recessed portion 20 for the reception of the'upp'er standards of --=the fork-s. *Thes'e clips are also provided with bearing plates '21 fandbolts 22 pass throaigh-therecessed portionsythe standards andbe'a'ring plates for rigidly connecting therhps tothe standards. Formed integral 'with the said clips are extensions 3 to which are seeured;-'on end of the springs l 9'by means=-=of pc1 ts' 23.

The' opposite ends ofthe springs 19 "divergencrmally from the forks -1 toward the ilinks 4, 'then "curve 1 inwardly as at 24, and then arepivotally connected to the aper tu'red "extenfsioiu 26 by means of bolts 25. The curved portions of the springs permit ariy lengltudinalmo'vement due'tothe links swinging about their pivot and straps 27 Chinese the ext'remities of the said fcurved ertrens to preventthe s rings from breaklnTg "tin their "rebound stroke. Toadjust the bearings-so that the" springs will yield; more or less freely 'forriders er different "weights thejliiiks 4 may he provided with gtwo" or more apertured extensions 26 as indicated in dott'ed Hines in Fig. 2,- at different "distdifies -ffm F the pivot b01135 8 61 flllCIHIIiS -d links.

1 11 "the 'eperati n of motorcycle 01- bicycle equipped with a "wheelsuppoit 'as means of a bolt 34,

herein described and shown the rear axle willyield upward more orless against the "tension of the "springsl9"as the wheel passes over-rough or -uneven roads and thereby relieve the rider as well as the frame of the machine and parts mounted thereon, from jolting and'jarring and possible injur ro which they woirld otherwise be subjected.

Whereas, I have shown the v springs 19 and the pivot connections-5 between the frame of the vehicle and the rear wheel on one side of'the frame in the figures of the drawings with the exception of Fig. 4 it is of course to be understood the arrangement ofthese parts is to be duplicated on the opposite-side of thdvehiclefrat-me.

Having fully described my invention what l'claim esnew and desire to "secure by'Letters Patent is i i V 1. The combination with rear Wheelforks,

of links-pivotally connected to the "ends of the fork members, leaf ='springs secured at one end-to the fork -member 'the opposite ends thereof being curved inwardly and 'secured to said'links, an auxiliary frame piv-.

'otally connected to sai'd links and means for pivotall'y connecting said auxiliary frame to the fork members.

2. The combination with the w-heel -forks of -a vehicle, of links, an -axlecarried by said 1-inks,"-acircular plate carriedbyeach of-said links, a pair of pl'atesdetachably secured to each of the 'fork members, means for pivotally connecting one of the circula'r' plates between eachof the pairsof plates' carried by the fork member and means for yieldingly' connecting the said links to'the fork members. I

3. The combinationwith the WheeliOrks of a vehicle, having their rear 'a-p'e'Xes cut away, of a pair of circular plates adaptedto be connected toeach-fork member, means for conne'cting each pair of "plates and holding the same in spaced relation, angular exten.

sions formedintegrally with each of said plates, means for connecting the 'said extensions to the "fork members, a circular plate pivotallysecured between each pair of the first: mentionedgplates, link-carried by each of the last mentionedcircular plates,

the rear a xle -o'f thef'vehicle adapted 1 to be secured to the P said links, and 1 means ior I yieldingly connectingthe-sai d links to the fork members" substantially as "described. 4:. The combination with the rear "forks of "a motorcycle, of links 'pivotally-connected thereto,-an axle carried by thesaid links,

means-for yieldingly connecting the links to l the fork members, an auxiliary frame,

nected to the fo k membersat one. endmeans-for-pivotally cennecting the opp site End -(if said b iir t0 ike intermediate-' portion a Vehicle having the rear apexes of the forks cut away, of a pair of circular plates, angular extensions carried by said plates each having a recess formed in the inner face thereof, the truncated ends of the forks adapted to rest within said recesses and means for connecting the extensions to the forks, apertured lugs arranged on the diametrically opposite sides of the said plates,

bolts extending through said apertured lugs for connecting each pair of plates, means for holding the plates in spaced relation a circular plate pivotally secured between each pair of first mentioned plates, oflset links carried by the lastmentioned circular plates, the axle of the vehicle adapted to be secured to said links, leaf springs permanently secured at one end to the forks, and diverging toward the said links, the opposite ends of the springs being curved inwardly and connected to the said links, an auxiliary frame connected to said links and means for pivotally connecting said auxiliary frame to the said fork substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.v

CHARLES W. HEATH. Witnesses:

E; B. SKINNER, M. O. HEATH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

